Jubilee Offer: Patriotic Classics for £2.50 |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
|
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Fighting off their various demons--in the case of singer Dave Gahan, a heroin addiction which saw him clinically dead on at least one occasion--the band reformed for its 11th studio album. But where Songs of Faith And Devotion had indulged their penchant for stadium rock theatrics (with disastrous results, so far as Gahan was concerned), Ultra saw a return to the layered electronics of Violator--albeit with a noticeably tougher edge. By engaging Bomb The Bass's Tim Simenon as producer, their sound underwent a subtle metamorphosis: the beats harder, the arrangements more complex and contemporary. The result was their most satisfying collection to date. And though Martin Gore's own vocal, on "Home", constitutes one of this album's standouts, what's really remarkable is Gahan's treatment of Gore's songs, in light of his own chequered history: to hear him sing "Useless" ("you've got your head in the clouds/ you should see how it feels/ with your feet on the ground") is like nothing so much as watching a public declaration of guilt. Discomfiting, but also compelling. --Andrew McGuire
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
By the time Brit-pop came to its end, and a new wave of teen groups took hold of the world, Depeche Mode was born again, as a phoenix which rises from its own ashes.
1997 was the come-back year for big bands such as INXS and U2, but their efforts were not even a bit close to Depeche Mode's Ultra.
U2 showed they were only made to commercialize their image and play guitars while INXS demonstrated they were only an 80's band.
Depeche Mode gave us another surprise. After the hugely successful Violator, we were given a soul-rock album, something nobody thought they were capable of, and Ultra, the follow-up to Songs of Faith and Devotion, is the perfect mixture of strings and keyboards.
The album is made of a wide variety of musical styles, from the synth-pop of "It's no good" to the US- western of "Freestate", from the rock of "Useless" to the soft ballad in "Insight".
The vocalization reaches a zenith with Martin Gore in "Home", a wonderful ballad with splendid lyrics and a powerful production, and though Dave's vocal are not at its best, he still pleases us with good performances like "Insight" or "Useless".
The lyrics tell us about tears, longing, patience and even hope, in the intelligent way Depeche Mode has accustomed us for a long time.
The production is excellent, and maybe the only weak point of the album is that there are many musicians, showing that the departure of Alan Wilder left an empty space very difficult to cover.
In Ultra, we find one of the best albums ever made. An elegant album that is probably the most accessible in the entire discography of these Basildon musicians, though most of the credits go to an album released the same year, the "OK Computer" of Radiohead. Obviously, the fact of not being a rock band makes Depeche Mode less important than the Oxford kids, but almost ten years after, Depeche Mode continues offering excellent albums and being one of the most successful and popular acts in the history of music, demonstrating their quality and influence go beyond musical genres and musical tastes.
As a personal experience, this is my favourite album from all I own and have heard. It's above The Beatles' white album or the Sundays' Reading Writing and arithmetic. It remembers me a lot my first year in High school and many things that almost make me cry, it occupies an important part in my life and heart, but despite I have all the albums of Depeche Mode, this is by far my favourite. Even my father likes to play it, and that's really strange, for he loves music of the 60's.
I highly recommend this album to everyone, those interested in good music, in learning about Depeche Mode, or just looking for a different and elegant album.
1997 was the come-back year for big bands such as INXS and U2, but their efforts were not even a bit close to Depeche Mode's Ultra.
U2 showed they were only made to commercialize their image and play guitars while INXS demonstrated they were only an 80's band.
Depeche Mode gave us another surprise. After the hugely successful Violator, we were given a soul-rock album, something nobody thought they were capable of, and Ultra, the follow-up to Songs of Faith and Devotion, is the perfect mixture of strings and keyboards.
The album is made of a wide variety of musical styles, from the synth-pop of "It's no good" to the US- western of "Freestate", from the rock of "Useless" to the soft ballad in "Insight".
The vocalization reaches a zenith with Martin Gore in "Home", a wonderful ballad with splendid lyrics and a powerful production, and though Dave's vocal are not at its best, he still pleases us with good performances like "Insight" or "Useless".
The lyrics tell us about tears, longing, patience and even hope, in the intelligent way Depeche Mode has accustomed us for a long time.
The production is excellent, and maybe the only weak point of the album is that there are many musicians, showing that the departure of Alan Wilder left an empty space very difficult to cover.
In Ultra, we find one of the best albums ever made. An elegant album that is probably the most accessible in the entire discography of these Basildon musicians, though most of the credits go to an album released the same year, the "OK Computer" of Radiohead. Obviously, the fact of not being a rock band makes Depeche Mode less important than the Oxford kids, but almost ten years after, Depeche Mode continues offering excellent albums and being one of the most successful and popular acts in the history of music, demonstrating their quality and influence go beyond musical genres and musical tastes.
As a personal experience, this is my favourite album from all I own and have heard. It's above The Beatles' white album or the Sundays' Reading Writing and arithmetic. It remembers me a lot my first year in High school and many things that almost make me cry, it occupies an important part in my life and heart, but despite I have all the albums of Depeche Mode, this is by far my favourite. Even my father likes to play it, and that's really strange, for he loves music of the 60's.
I highly recommend this album to everyone, those interested in good music, in learning about Depeche Mode, or just looking for a different and elegant album.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I waited in anticipation for the arrival of this CD. Would Alans departure affect the sound of what is undoubtedly this countries most undervalued band? would Dave actually live through any ensuing tours which could result from this album? How on the face of this planet could the boys follow up the musical mountain that is SOFAD? The answer was immediatly apparent with the release of Barrel of a gun, SOFAD is not a mountain No, ULTRA moves me! What a JOY. DM (especially the genius of Martin) are phonominal, they go from strength to strenght with seamless effort. Home, Usless, Freestate, Insight, where the hell do these inspired tunes come from? I am a fan, and therefore impartial readers of this review may question the validity of this opinion, my only retort to these questions is buy this album, listen to HOME, and be prepared to go out and buy every other recording that this fandabbydozie band have ever made.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
At first I didn't take to this album. It sounded a bit too 'grungy' for my musical taste. A friend suggested that I listen to it through headphones. I did and I've never looked back. This has become my favourite album of all time (knocking Thomas Dolby's 'Flat Earth' off my top slot). Every vocal track is brilliant (the 3 instumentals are below average). The overall production is excellent.
The track 'Home' has to be my fave track of all time. I cannot find fault with it.
I'm not easily impressed. I'm VERY choosey. 'Ultra' is highly reccomended. Especially through headphones... Enjoy!!!
The track 'Home' has to be my fave track of all time. I cannot find fault with it.
I'm not easily impressed. I'm VERY choosey. 'Ultra' is highly reccomended. Especially through headphones... Enjoy!!!
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Dark Side of Depeche Mode
Ultra is one of those albums that took Depeche Mode on a logical, and sometimes satisfyingly bleak, path into industrial rock, with their trademark electronic sound with them for... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Andy Norton
One of Depeche Mode's best albums
When I first bought this album back in '97, I didn't think too much of it. I liked it, but it wasn't like listening to Music for the Masses. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Bogie
Genius
Depeche Mode is one of the greatest bands of all time. The well written lyrics, marvelous vocals and good use of electronic sounds and musical instruments. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Chlobo Shoka
Depeche Mode - Ultra Violatorious!
Many site Violator as the best album,
one music hack said this album felt
incomplete and came too soon after Dave
Gahan's brush with clinical death. Read more
one music hack said this album felt
incomplete and came too soon after Dave
Gahan's brush with clinical death. Read more
Published on 9 Jan 2010 by Mr. David Stanton
The most incredible fascinating album of all time by far
The most incredible fascinating album of all time by far ... I will start my review by these simple words because this album is beyond words to describe.. Read more
Published on 19 Dec 2007 by Ayman magdy (Cairo,Egypt)
Ultra
After reading reviews I bought this CD and was not disapopointed in it. I rate 'Home' exellent and it is a pure piece of orchestral magic.
Published on 20 Dec 2006 by bjtwiggs
Low-key brilliance
The first time I listened to Ultra it made little impression......nor the second time - but after repeated listenings its subtle charms began to emerge and it's become my favourite... Read more
Published on 25 Sep 2006 by M. Marshall
Thank you, Depeche Mode for keeping the fire burning to this day
Ultra is perhaps the most underrated Depeche Mode album, and surely their most difficult to digest. And it's easy to understand why. Read more
Published on 24 Sep 2006 by Diagoras
a classic despite some weaknesses
This album has had mixed reviews but in my opinion is up there in the top 3 mode albums. Clearly born of suffering this is what depeche mode are all about. Read more
Published on 8 Oct 2005 by Kingstonian
Underestimated, Underrated.
Spent force?! I don't think so! I won't deny that Alan Wilder was sadly missed by the majority of DM fans, particularly when listening to "Ultra" for the first time. Read more
Published on 6 Oct 2005 by Coincidence Vs Fate
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
